diff --git a/app/models/ci/runner_manager.rb b/app/models/ci/runner_manager.rb
index b9db19b9a1fc357df64b68b91644158fe64a72ae..aa470aa0d7abf5467888a77593fb8ab54a8fc92d 100644
--- a/app/models/ci/runner_manager.rb
+++ b/app/models/ci/runner_manager.rb
@@ -184,6 +184,15 @@ def heartbeat(values)
       end
     end
 
+    # While using update_columns may be useful from performance perspective, we still want
+    # the `updated_at` column to be updated. As most updates to the Ci::RunnerManager entity
+    # happen through the heartbeat model, when receiving some new/updated details from the
+    # runner side and without this change, `updated_at` may equal to `created_at` even months
+    # later, while the record did get multiple changes in that time.
+    def update_columns(attrs = {})
+      super(attrs.reverse_merge(updated_at: Time.current))
+    end
+
     def supports_after_script_on_cancel?
       !!runtime_features['cancel_gracefully']
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/ci/runner_manager_spec.rb b/spec/models/ci/runner_manager_spec.rb
index 0235ff0005853fcdb94cf4598057656d3849bff3..58d3b7fa173c6167bc27b6a50cef0bcbc10d62f8 100644
--- a/spec/models/ci/runner_manager_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ci/runner_manager_spec.rb
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@
   end
 
   describe '#heartbeat', :freeze_time do
-    let(:runner_manager) { create(:ci_runner_machine, version: '15.0.0') }
+    let(:runner_manager) { create(:ci_runner_machine, version: '15.0.0', updated_at: (Time.current - 1.day)) }
     let(:executor) { 'shell' }
     let(:values) do
       {
@@ -658,6 +658,7 @@
             expect_redis_update
             expect { heartbeat }.to change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:labels) }
               .from({}).to({ 'environment' => 'production', 'team' => 'backend' })
+              .and change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
           end
         end
       end
@@ -666,7 +667,7 @@
         let(:version) { runner_manager.version }
 
         it 'does not schedule ci_runner_versions update' do
-          heartbeat
+          expect { heartbeat }.to change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
 
           expect(Ci::Runners::ProcessRunnerVersionUpdateWorker).not_to have_received(:perform_async)
         end
@@ -678,7 +679,7 @@
             it 'updates with expected executor type' do
               expect_redis_update
 
-              heartbeat
+              expect { heartbeat }.to change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
 
               expect(runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:executor_type)).to eq(expected_executor_type)
             end
@@ -695,7 +696,7 @@ def expected_executor_type
           it 'updates with unknown executor type' do
             expect_redis_update
 
-            heartbeat
+            expect { heartbeat }.to change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
 
             expect(runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:executor_type)).to eq('unknown')
           end
@@ -709,7 +710,7 @@ def expected_executor_type
           it 'updates labels' do
             expect_redis_update
 
-            heartbeat
+            expect { heartbeat }.to change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
 
             expect(runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:labels)).to eq(values[:labels])
           end
@@ -732,6 +733,7 @@ def does_db_update
                           .and change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:config) }
                           .and change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:executor_type) }
                           .and change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:runtime_features) }
+                          .and change { runner_manager.reload.read_attribute(:updated_at) }
     end
   end